Hot Hot Heat - Make up the Breakdown
Subpop - 2002
Band Members
Dante DeCaro - Guitar
Steve Bays - Keyboard/Vox
Dustin Hawthorne - Bass
Paul Hawley - Drums
Information
Hot Hot Heat formed in 1999 in Victoria, British Columbia. Throughout their synth-punk lifespan, they have created a very unique sound, and always kept the music fun. I have actually heard people compare these guys to The Cure, and while I don't really think they are that similar, I think Steve's voice is a deciding factor for whether people would like the band. Anyway, prior to this, their debut full-length, HHH had only released a 12", "Knock Knock Knock".
Track by Track
01 Naked in the city again
This track starts the album off perfectly. It's a foot tapping, danceable freaky awesome song. The chorus to this is so cool. The whole track is driven along by the bass drum and the ride cymbal mostly, and the guitar in the verses is very creative and perfect. 4/5
02 No, Not Now
The second single, if I recall correctly. It starts off with some stop starty guitar, and the vocals come stright in, with the drums following quickly. This is the chorus straight away, the song then changes up completely. The chorus to this song is also brilliant, and is one of my favourite on the record. 4.5/5
03 Get in or Get out
This song is pretty cool. Starts in the same formula as the previous track, and then it comes in much much more melodic, and the chorus is thumping, and quite good. It flows very very well as a song, and there is a really really awesome bridge part, and some cool keyboard throughout the whole song. 3.5/5
04 Bandagee
The first single off the album. This song is insanely catchy: "Bandages hold my legs and my arms from you. Bandages, bandages, bandages." Ok, it doesn't look that catchy, but trust me. The song again flows incredibly well, and the build up to the chorus is brilliant. I love this song. 4.5/5
05 Oh, Goddam
nit
The song starts out with incredibly cool vocals, and when he sings the title line, a part comes in that really shouldn't flow, but they make it work. The bassline is real cool in this track, and it is fun as hell. Some cool piano comes in in the second half too. I really dig this song too. 4/5
06 Aveda
This song is about doing what a girl wants, and knowing it's getting you nowhere. The chorus is a cool change, with a dropped off melody,and some low vocal delivery. The verses to this song are the coolest. The best part of the song, and one of my favourite on the album, is the verse in which the vocals are really crazy amd really hard to hear. 3.8/5
07 This Town
My favourite track on the album. Insanely catchy, and some really nifty and original sounding instrumentation. The vocals are brilliantly delivered again, which is a key to the whole album. When the plucking sound comes in the second verse, the song gets really good. Ahhh, I just love this song so much. 5/5
08 Talk to me, Dance With me
Third single. This is the most popular song off the album, I think. The chanting of "you are my only girl, but you're not my owner girl" at the start is really cool. The synth is really present in this track, and there are a few different parts which are pieced together brilliantly. 4/5
09 Save us SOS
This chorus is good. I mean really good. You can hear Steve's voice scraping te edge of it's reach, and that is where the goodness lies. The part after the first verse is insanely good. The second time the chorus comes in, it's changed, and Steve's voice shines through so well. Another really great track. 4/5
10 In Cairo
The "soft song". The instrumentation throughout the beginning of this song is absolutely beautiful, and the song seems like it will be perfect. Steve's singing when he says "Cairo" however, let's the songs beauty off a little. Or so it seems. The fact is, is that the song you were expecting wasn't hinted at by the intro, but by Steve's vocals, and when the chorus comes in, you get it. Relaly great song. 4/5
Hot Hot Heat are just finishing recording their second album. "Make up the Breakdown" is a brilliant debut, and if they keep going this way, they will become a great band. As it stands now, they have a couple of weaknesses, but the songwriting is absolutely perfect. A bit of polishing, and the next album should be a brilliant album. The thing about Hot Hot Heat is: Steve Bays. His voice is the key, and it is absolutely awesomely cool and fun. For a fun album though, the lyrics are very sincere, and it mixes very well.
4.1/5
